Day of the Dead DIY #57-60: More DOD Projects

Even though Dia De Los Muertos has ended, there are still more DOD inspired projects to create for next year or that work to add some festivity to the rest of the year:

1. Doily Papel Picado by "De Su Mama":

2. DOD Wooden Tray from the Lowes website:

3. Chalkboard DOD Vases by "Unknown Mami":

4. Sugar Skull Dish Towels by "Pearmama":

Day of the Dead DIY #46-50: DOD Garland

You'll often find garland, usually marigolds, strung around an altar for Dia De Los Muertos–so we've found a few new takes on DOD garland that would also work for your altar:

1. Beaded Skull Garland from "Persimmon and Peach":

2. DOD Garland from the Paper Source blog:

3.Printable Sugar Skull Garland by "Mayhem Here" on Etsy:

4. Marigold Garland from "Garden Design":

5. Crochet Marigold Garland by "Arty and Crafty Little Things":

Day of the Dead DIY #43-45: Flower Headbands Fit for DOD!

There are so many DIY flower crowns out there that would colorfully complement an outfit for Dia De Los Muertos. Here are a few that we found and one we created ourselves:

1. Felt Flower Crowns by "Now That's Pretty"

2. Crepe Paper Flower Headband by "Domesticspace"

3.Paper Flower Crown from "Alana Jones-Mann"

Day of the Dead DIY #36-#40: DOD Recipe Inspiration

Here is some inspiration for creating Day of the Dead themed baked goodies:

1. Skull Pancakes, courtesy of Williams Sonoma's skull pancake molds (these would be wonderful with some food coloring added to the mix to make sugar skull pancakes):

2. Adorable Churro Sugar Skull Cupcakes by "Man Bakes Cake":

3. Decorating Sugar Skull Stamp Cookies on "Kid Crave":

4. Papel Picado Flags for cupcakes by "Pretty Prudent":

5. Calavera Cookies by "Sweet Dani B":

Day of the Dead DIY #32-35: Papel Picado DIY's

These papel picado projects work for Day of the Dead parties, altars, or just for Day of the Dead inspired decorations:

1. Papel Picado Straw Flags by "Cupcakes and Cutlery":

2. Papel Picado Votives by "WhimseyBox Blog":

3. Papel Picado Coasters by "Style Me Pretty":

4. Fabric Papel Picado by "Maker Mama":

Day of the Dead DIY #30 and #31: More DOD Felting

Here are a few more tutorials on felting for Day of the Dead, including a needle felting tutorial for creating small skulls–a very different felt craft that uses wool roving and needles to create small felt sculptures. We know we've gotten a bit felt happy here on the blog, but we promise you'll love these tutorials:

1. Needle felting Skulls by "Small Good Things":

2. Felt Marigolds by "Miles of Sunshine"

Day of the Dead DIY #28 & #29: DOD Crochet Patterns

There are a few awesome crochet patterns throughout the web for Dia De Los Muertos! So get your crochet hooks ready, because we've added some DOD patterns that make for unique DOD decorations that last all year long:

1. Crochet Papel Picado on Ravelry:

2. Crochet Sugar Skull on Ravelry (image via):

Day of the Dead DIY #22-24: 3 DIYS from Other Blogs

Here are 3 DIYS from other blogs we thought would work wonderfully for Day of the Dead:

1. Day of the Dead Party Favor Boxes from "Bead & Cord"

2. Paper Marigold Tutorial from "The Hungry Texan"

3. Permanent Papel Picado from "Just Me and Macy"

Day of the Dead DIY #21: Felt DOD Banner

We did a felt sugar skull tutorial using one of our own workshop kits a few days ago, and we wanted to show you another DOD felt project for this DIY that we also offer: Felt Day of the Dead Banners!

What you'll need:

-needles 

-embroidery thread

-one of our felt dod banner kits

What to do:

1. Begin by cutting a long piece of thread, knotting the end, and attaching the white oval to the purple oval. Make sure to come up through the back of the two ovals.

2. Next, attach your letter in the same way. Do this for each Letter.

3. String your letter together using thread, ribbon, etc...
(more images to come)

Day of the Dead DIY #21: Embroidered Felt Sugar Skull

For DOD DIY #21, we'll be creating small felt sugar skulls, also a workshop we offer here at Casa Artelexia!

What you'll need:

-one of our felt sugar skull DIY kits (buy it here or come into Casa Artelexia every Saturday from 12-4 for our workshop!)

-needle

-embroidery thread
-glue

What to do:

1. Cut a long piece of embroidery floss (over a foot long) and knot the end. You'll begin by taking one side of your felt skull and attaching the eyes, nose, flowers, and mouth first. Do this before you attach the two sides together.

2. Begin sewing by bring your needle up the back of the skull's face, and then back down through whichever piece you are attaching first. Bring your needle up and down until the piece is anchored onto the face, and then move on to the next piece.

3. For the mouth, you will also come up with your needle through the back of the face and create a few horizontal stitches. Create a few vertical stitches to complete the mouth.

4. Now you can begin attaching both sides together. For this part, cut a new, very long piece of embroidery thread (this will allow you to stitch around the entire skull without running out of thread).

5. You'll use the blanket stitch to embroider the pieces together: Come up through the back of the two pieces with your needle.

6. Come back down next to the place where you came up, and before you pull all the way through, take your needle and thread through the stitch.

7. Come back down next to the stitch you just created, and repeat.

8. Stuff your skull with fluff before you sew it completely and glue the sequins onto the eyes.

Day of the Dead DIY #20: Sugar Skull Mask Workshop

We created a 2D sugar skull mask for one of our other DIY's, but we thought we'd DIY a different mask, and one that that we offer as a workshop here at Casa Artelexia. You can come in to the store every Saturday from 12-4 and create your own 3D sugar skull mask!

What you'll need:

 -colorful paints
-paintbrushes
-plain skull mask

What to do:

1. Paint your mask any color you would like for the base color (we used two coats of white)
2. Add flowers, swirls, and other decorative elements to give it a sugar skull feel.
3. Use your mask at a Day of the Dead parade, as a DOD display or altar, or a Halloween mask!